Grapple.



w. OJ WEDGE. GRAPPLE".

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3. ISIS.

' 1,220,481 Patented Mar. 27,1917.

WILLIAM O. WEDGE, OF CENTER, COLORADO.

GRAPPLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2?, Mitt.

Application filed June 3, 1916. Serial No. 101,526.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. Wnnen, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Center, in the county of Saguache and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to grapples and has particular reference to new and use ful improvements in cuspidor lifters and the like.

My invention has for its primary object the provision of a gapple of the class de scribed which is simple in construction, strong and durable, cheap to manufacture and effective in operation, the device having automatic means associated therewith for grippingly engaging a container or the like object.

Another object of my invention is to provide a d vice of the character described which may be carried from place to place, the structure of the device being arranged whereby to grasp an object in the jaws thereof, a suitable manipulating handle being provided for moving the gripping jaws out of engagement with an object to be held thereby.

Other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of my improved grapple will appear from the following detail description and the claims, taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a grapple embodying the improvements of my invention Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental elevational view of the pivot point for the gripping arms;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the actuating member for the arms; and

Fig. a is an enlarged bottom plan of the actuating member shown in Fig. 3, parts of the device being omitted.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar characters of reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout the various views, 1 designates a tubular stafi forming the body of my improved grapple. A handle 2 is carried by the upper end of the staff 1, said handle being supported by arms 3 riveted or otherwise secured as at 4t to the staff 1.

I provide object engaging means on the free end of the staff 1, said means including a strap or band 5 which encircles the staff 1 adjacent one free end portion thereof, said band having a plurality of hook members 6 carried thereby, said members 6 engaging arms 7, the free ends of said arms being formed to provide object engaging jaws 8. The intermediate portions of the arms 7 are offset as at 9 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

I provide means for moving the arms 7 into and out of engagement with an object to be held. For this purpose I provide a plate 10, in this instance circular, said plate 10 having a central aperture therein whereby the same may be mounted upon the staff I, said plate also being provided with a plurality of apertures 11 adjacent the outer peripheral edge thereof. The purpose of the apertures 11 is to receive the arms 7, reciprocation of said plate in a manner which will hereinafter appear, serving to move said arms for engagement and dis engagement with an object.

I provide a coiled spring member 12 having one end thereof in engagement with the band 5 and the other end thereof in engagement with the plate 10, said spring being of the expansive type, serving to nornally maintain the plate in the outermost position, consequently tending to move the arms 7 inwardly to gripping position. For

moving the plate 10 against the action of the spring I provide arod 13 extending longitudinally throughout the staff 1, one free end of said rod having a transverse member 1 1 thereon for engagement with the outer face of the plate 10, the other end of said rod having an eye 15 thereon for engagement with the linger of the users hand, whereby to reciprocate said rod and said plate to open the jaws against the tension of the spring 12.

In order to accommodate the transverse extension 1 1 I provide a pair of slots 16 in the staff 1, said member 1% being adapted for sliding movement in said slot.

In operation, assuming that it is desired to open the jaws, the device is grasped by the handle 2, one finger of the users hand being engaged with the eye 15 and an upward pull directed thereon. This movement will cause the plate 10 to be drawn up Wardly, this action serving to expand the arms 7 to receive an object to be gripped by the jaws 8. It will, of course, be apparent that the movement of the plate 10 causes what I claim as new and desire to secure rod.

gaging arms pivotally connected with said body above the slot, an actuating plate operthe-expansion 01" said arms, by virtue of the extension of said arms through the openings 11 in the plate. The free end portions of atively engaging the arms and slidably the extension 14 are enlarged as at 18 to mounted on the body, said plate having prevent binding of the plate 10 when in ggide means thereon coacting with the slot,

operation. an expansible coiled spring surrounding the It will be seenthat after the arms have lower end ot the body and bearing against the plate to hold the arms normally closed, and means for retracting the plate against the spring tension to expand said arms. From the above description taken in con- 2. A device of the class described includnection with the accompanying drawing, it ing a tubular body havingalining longiis thought that a clear and comprehensive tudinally extending guide'slots therein, obunderstanding of the construction, operaject engaging arms pivotally connected with tion and advantages of my invention may be said body above the slots, a spring tensioned had, and while I have shown and described actuating plate slidably mounted on the my invention as embodying a specific strucbody adjacent the slot, an operating rod ture, I desire that it be understood that I movable longitudinally of said body having may make such changes in said structure an eye on its upper end, and a transversely as do not depart from the spirit and scope extending guide member on the bottom of of the invention as claimed. the actuating plate extending through the Having thus fully described my invention, slot adjacent the lower end of the operating been expanded and engaged about an obect the eye is to be released permltting the aws 8 to firmly grasp the ob ect.

In testimony whereof, I affiX my signature by Letters Patent, is

hereto.

1. A, device of the class described comprising a body, said body having a long1- tudinally extending guide slot, ob ect en- WILLIAM O. WEDGE. Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pat ents Washington, D. G. 

